Please note that the Editors consider this term to be both contradictory and confusing, and suggest therefore, considerable caution before use.

BANNERET

1) A term sometimes used to describe a miniature banner; this is often (but
not invariably) straight-sided and swallow-tailed, is designed to be displayed
vertically and usually shows emblems of both national and local significance (see
also ‘bannerette’,
‘emblem, general’ and
‘swallow-tail(ed)’).

2) A medieval term, now obsolete, for a knight entitled to lead men into
battle – a knight banneret – whose armigerous
and whose lance pennon was square-ended, or for the group of knights so lead –
a banneretus (see also
‘armigerous’,
‘banderium’,
‘lance pennon 1)’
and ‘pennoncier’).

Lance Pennon of Sir Robert Knolles. Knight Banneret c1360, England

BANNERETTE (or BANERETTE)

1) A small ceremonial banner decorating a set of bagpipes, a drum or a trumpet
– a drum banner, pipe banner or a trumpet banner or tabard (see also
‘war banner’).

The term - and a direct translation of the German term "bannerhaupt" used
in German language vexillology - to describe the usually (but not invariably)
white area of field that may appear at the head of a hanging flag or a banner
and usually bearing a civic or regional coat of arms (see also
‘banner 2)’,
‘hanging flag’ and
‘hoisted flag’).

1) The heraldic term for a horizontal stripe that is rarely borne singly, and which
in strict heraldic practice should occupy about one-fifth the width of a shield, a banner
of arms or any quartering thereof – but see ‘Appendix VI’
and compare with ‘fess’ (also
‘barrulet’, ‘barry’,
‘filet’ and
‘quartering 1)’).
2) In vexillology see ‘stripe(s)’.
3) In UK military usage and in some others, the metal clasp which is added to a medal ribbon to indicate a second award of that same medal, or the battle, campaign or reason for its award.

Notesa) In vexillology a fess and a bar are regarded as almost synonymous.
b) With regard to 1), in strict heraldic usage there is a size difference between the
two (as listed herein), and that a fess should be confined to the centreline of the field
whereas a bar or bars need not.

BARBED

A heraldic term used when describing the leaves of a rose or the metal point of an arrow
or of a spear, particularly when these are of a different tincture - but see note below
‘seeded’ and
‘shafted’ (also
‘garnished’,
‘hafted’,
‘hilted’,
‘rogacina’ and
‘tincture’).

An accurate but seldom used translation (balken meaning a “balk, “bar” or “beam” of
wood) of the German term balkenkreuz - see ‘balkenkreuz’.

BARGE FLAG

In UK usage, one of a number of varying flags (usually a banner of arms)
which are flown from the ceremonial barges of London’s livery companies (see
also ‘banner of arms’, and
‘boat flag 3)’).

Barge Flag/Banner of Arms of The Worshipful Company of Fletchers, London UK

Please note that in British RN and some other usage, the small boat carrying a vessel’s
commander, or a flag officer, is called the captain’s, commodore’s or admiral’s “barge”, but
that any rank flag or ensign flown from it is invariably called a “boat” flag as referenced
above.

The heraldic term for a narrow horizontal stripe that is rarely bourn singly, which is often
to be seen as a barrulet wavy and which in strict heraldic practice should occupy one-quarter the
width of a bar or about one-twentieth the width of a shield, a banner of arms or any quartering
thereof – a barrelet, barrully or bracelet (see also
‘Appendix VI’,
‘bar’,
‘barry’, ‘filet’ and
‘wavy’).